Don’t be afraid to go into the water in this swim-suit. The two-colour diagonals sloping sideways make a firm fabric that will not stretch. Cords at the neck and waist, plus tight crochet all around the sides and back, help to keep the shape.

With a intro like that, I’d be tempted to knit this up if knitting suits were still worn. :)

This suit is designed to fit a 33-35 inch bust and has a tension of 9 stitches to an inch, which is a slightly tighter gauge than the standard 8 stitches per inch with the same, fingering weight yarn.

Like I said before, I think this suit is just adorable! With my own beach outing earlier this week, I thought this pattern was extra-fitting to share with you all as well. So while I doubt you’ll end up knitting this for yourself, I hope you don’t mind me sharing it just the same. Maybe it could be made up as a mini romper or perhaps you could make just the top half for a halter top with a skirt. A girl can dream…. heh

As always, be sure to leave me a comment if you’d like to see any particular type of patterns or eras. Hope you all have a great weekend & have fun in the sun!

Oh and I should add that I picked up an old stitchcraft from, I think, 1937… with swimsuits in it too :) Including some for the gents ;) There was a very cute one for a little boy too- with a boat on it :)

I have several patterns from the 40s and 50s for swimsuit and although I love the designs I’d never dare to wear them while bathing! How did they do that back in the days, didn’t the garments stretch while wet?!
Your idea of using the patterns as a mini romper is great, I definitely have to think about that in the future!

When I asked my grandmother how they did it, she said that her mother (who was knitting her swimwear) was like the queen of knitting. She made the swimsuits a little bit too small, and then streched it when it was done. I don’t know what my great grandmother used to measure the stretch or anything, those are secrets she bought with her to the grave… :(
… And when my grandmother tried knitting one for herself, it streched so much that it was pretty much five sizes too big…

I aodre this swimsuit! If only I had the pattern drafting skills to make it up in cotton. A chevron design is so flattering in swimwear. Alas, I am not a knitter, and the idea of swimming in wool seems absurd, though it was certainly done for decades so it must be ok?

I have been tempted to have a go at this pattern for the past two years….I am currently investigating the type of yarn I could use. Patton still offer wool 3 ply but tension stated is a bit different. This is what worries me a bit….I can work a swatch and adapt my tension, but will I still get the same result? Mmmmm….. Anyway I can always make the top half into an halter top as you suggested, an excellent idea it is!

The 3-ply yarn is hard to come by these days. Susan Crawford actually came out with her own line of 3-ply yarn earlier this year or last year, can’t quite remember. Anyhow, I think you should check it out. She also did a post about knit swimwear that sounds right up your alley.

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Hi, my name is Liz. By day I’m a research ayalyst; I work with data and run statistics all day long. But by night I’m all about creating things. I have a passion for making things and learning new skills... Read more »